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 on him to guard Britannia against all invasion and insult whether from the west, north, or east. Hence, when we read of Arthur being chosen to act for the kings of the Britons as their dux bellorum, we cannot be far wrong in suspecting that we have here the historic basis of that hero's renown. That he is never styled gwledig is true, but such equivalents as Arthur Miles, Dux Bellorum, Penteyrned (Chief of kings), and even Ameraudur (Imperator), are sufficient to assure us of the nature of his office. It is expressly stated that there were many of more noble descent than himself, which is corroborated by the absence of his pedigree in all lists prior to Geoffrey of Monmouth's romance. He was killed at Camlan ten years before the death of Maelgwn Gwynedd, and therefore shortly before St. Gildas wrote his Epistola. It is significant that in this work there is a total absence of